"whithersoever the king's commandment … came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day". The Jews had lived in dread of extermination as a result of the Haman inspired wicked decree. This is not unlike the fear of death that came upon all men as the result of Adam's sin. But ... Read more

"it seemed right to all the people". The whole assembly of Israel agreed that David their king should bring the ark back from Kiriath Jearim where it had been temporarily lodging. The failure on this occasion was that neither David the king nor his advisors did properly seek out the divinely appointed way to effect ... Read more

"Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty handed". It could be anyone who keeps the family together at home, but in Ruth's case it was her mother-in-law. All who know the story are familiar with the way Ruth and her mother-in-law were attached to one another. All living in Bethlehem at the time knew too, ... Read more

"his heart went out to her". Whether this lady had encountered Jesus before this moment, we do not know. What we do know is that she was in the process of burying her only son - and her husband had already died. What Christ saw was more than a funeral procession. He saw the deeper ... Read more

"when I heard these words … I sat down and wept and mourned". Sorrow is never far away from those whose concern is for their fellowmen. If we would seek to love our neighbour as ourself our heart will go out to those destitute and in distress. Nehemiah heard that his beloved capital city lay ... Read more

"Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house". A help-meet was needed before the Fall and is still needed after it. Children can complete domestic bliss, but some are called to forego children of their own. Others are called to care for the orphans and destitute. Fruitfulness in the woman of the ... Read more

"Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God". It is a common error to think there can be true goodness without severity, just as we may think severity disregards true goodness. The goodness of the Lord is felt by all His creatures - in the life He gives and sustains, in the enjoyment of the ... Read more

"God himself shall be with them". The closing chapters of the Book of Revelation describe a scene that none in this life can really begin to appreciate. We can, however, sense the peace and tranquillity that prevails in these chapters after all the wrath and fury of what we read earlier. Not least among the ... Read more

"a servant girl". She probably never aspired to anything much more than a servant taking orders from others. But her words caused Peter to fall badly. She said "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth" as he sat outside in her yard. All eyes would be upon him and he denied that he knew Jesus. ... Read more

"Great men are not always wise". The greatest of men are not perfect and though behaving in an exemplary manner and giving wise advice, there is likely to be a time when their example should not be followed nor their counsel heeded. Until our attention is drawn to the God-man, Christ Jesus and our gaze ... Read more